Shuttle for sewing machines



Oct. 18, 1932. w. T. MINETT 1,883,812

SHUTTLE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March '7, 1930 Wine. W iz vegig/zid M a W I64 5% Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNlTEtJ s'rATEs Parentcaries WILFRID THOMAS MINETT, F LEIoEs'rEa, ENGLAND, 'ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED snoE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF rA'rE-Esoir, new a ooaroae'rron or NEW JERSEY SHUTTLE Eon sEwiNe MACHINES Application filed March 7, 1930, Serial No. 434322, and in Great Britain April 2, 1929.

proved construction of shuttle which can contain a larger amount of thread than shuttles of similar size and typehitherto usual.

Another of the several objects of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement of shuttle having a tension device which is so positioned and arranged thereon that it can be quickly and easily adjusted. Still another of the severa present invention is so to arrange a shuttle otthe kind indicated that threading may quickly and easily be accomplished.

. This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to shuttles for sewing machines and is particularly, though by no means exclusively, concerned with oscillating shuttles for curved hooked needle sewing niachines of the well-known type used for boot or shoe outsole stitching.

Shuttles for such machines usually comprise three parts, namely, the shuttle itself which has a metal body of a somewhat semicylindrical shape having a loop-taking nose or beak at one side of the body and a hollow cylindrical housing provided in the body ec- Still another of the several objects of the centrically th f, li d i l b bbia present invention s to providean improved which is adapted to fit into the housing atoreshuttle which shall be of compact and durid d b bbi whi h i ada ted t b fitt d able construction and from which thread into the interior of the bobbin case and to be may be withdrawn smoothly and-easily withplaced "with the latter as a unit into the housout pp i danger of ying h thread. ing in theshuttle The bobbin is held in po- One of the individual features of the pressition axially (and axially of the shuttle) by ent invention is concernedwith the provision a latch arm on the machine frame. of a shuttle comprising a shuttle body, a bob- It has hitherto been common to provid bin, a cover fora bobbin housing in the shuttension device on the outside of the peripheral tl b dy and n adjustable tension device on wall of the bobbin case to apply a tension to h S id cover. r the thread as the latter issues through an The-na ureot the present invention and its opening in the peripheral face of the b bbi several other features will become evident case and makes its way out of the shuttle. from a consideration-0t the following de- The tension device being on the outside ot'the rlptl n glven by way of example only and peripheral face or the bobbin. case increases W l ll'r f ren 0 h a mpanying drawing the overall thickness of the wall of the bobbin of an illustrative shuttle for a ma h ne as decase and for any given diameter of bobbin scribed in aforesaid specifications in which case housing permitted by the size of the the sa1d features are embodied 1n convenient shuttle necessitates the use of asmaller bob forms. I bin than would otherwise be necessary there In the drawing, Fig. 1 1s a front elevation I by reducing the amount of thread that can of the said illustrative shuttle; Fig. 2 i arear be contained in the shuttle. Further with a yiew of abobbin cover seen n Fig. land heresliuttle arranged as above described, it is matter described; Fig. 3 1s a section taken usually necessary when retlireading the shutsubstantially on the line .3- 3 of Fig. 1 and tle to remove both the bobbin and bobbin looking in the direction of the arrows in that casing from the shuttle itself and to extract the bobbin from the bobbin casing replacing figure; and Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the shuttle cover.

the parts after rethreading'ha-s been accomplished.

The illustrative shuttle comprises as usual a shuttle body 1 having a loop-taking beak It is also usually necessary in such a shuttle arrangement to remove the bobbin case if 3 and having formed therein a cylindrical it should be desired to adjust the tension dehousing adapted to house a bobbin. *In the present construction, however, the bobbin vice to vary the tension applied it to the thread.

(shown at 5, Fig. 3) is housed directly in said housing and is covered by a cover 7 fastened One of invention is to to the shuttle. The cover 7 is formed of the several objects of the present very thin sheet metal and provide a convenient and imhas a peripheral 1 objects of the flange has two notches formed therein the housing while its tion in the housing,

flange forming a side wall which is a sliding fit within the housing in the shuttle body and extends not quite half-way down into that housing when the cover is in place. Th?

which one is shown at 9 in Fig. 3) each of which engages with a corresponding pin 10 extending radially into the housing to form a bayonet joint to hold the cover 7 fast to the shuttle. An upstanding neck 11, see Fig.

3, which is formed integrally with the shuttle body 1 and centrally of the bobbin housing acts as a spindle on which the bobbin hub 51 rotates and has slidably mounted within it a pin 13 which is pressed outwardly (by a spring 15 located within the neck 11) to bear against the inside of the cover 7 to urge it away from the shuttle body and cause the bayonet joint aforesaid to lock. The spring '15 encircles a reduced portion of the pin 13 and bears at its upper end, as seen in Fig. 3, against the shoulder on the the reduction in diameter of the pin and at its pin formed by lower end the spring bears against a shoulder on the bottom of the neck 11. The reduced stem of the pin 13 passes outwardly through the bottom of the shuttle body and is there provided with a crosspin 17 which by contact with the bottom of the neck 11 limits the upward movement of the pin. The bobbin is of a depth approximately equal to that of diameter is only slightly less than that of the housing so that the housing is substantially filled with thread,

a condition permitted by the fact that the housing has only to provide room for the thin flange of the cover 7 in addition to the bobbin. The thread is drawn off from the bobbin to a point at the periphery of the housing which is situated approximately midway of the depth of the latter and for this purpose there is provided on the flange of the bobbin cover 7 a lug 21 which, when the cover is in posiis received within a groove 23 cut for it in the periphery of the housing. At a point approximately midway of the depth of the housing, the lug 21 is pro vided with an eye 25, see Fig. 4, through which the thread issues from the bobbin, the

"1- edges of the opening being rounded off to prevent chafing of the thread as it is drawn therethrough. Nearer to the top of the bob- =bin cover the lug 21 and the flange are provided with a second eye 27 through which the thread is drawn inwardly underneath the cover 7, the lower edge of this opening being bevelled off to ease the passage of the thread therethrough. An arcuate slot 29, see Fig. 1, is provided in the cover 7 to allow of easy threading of the shuttle as hereinafter explained and the slot extends from a pointnear the lug 21 through approximately sixty degrees around the circumference of the cover. At the end near the lug 21 the slot is provided with a rounded opening as shown slot 29 aforesaid as the end of this limb where it extends across the inside of in Figs. 1 and 2 and at its other end the slot 29 leads into a radial slot 31 which extends inwardly towards the centre of the cover and terminates a short distance from the centre in a rounded opening 33 as shown through which the thread is adapted to pass out of the shuttle. The corner 32 of the plate formed between the arcuate slot 29 and the radial slot 31 is bent outwardly somewhat to assist the thread to pass easily from the arcuate slot to the radial slot when threading the shuttle as hereinafter described. A flat spring 35 is provided on the outside of the cover to extend across the radial slot 31 as shown in Fig. 1 and is riveted to the cover by rivets 37 at that end remote from the slot. The opposite end of the spring 35 bridges the slot .31 and is formed as a nose which extends across the slot at an acute angle to the slot and is provided on that edge near to the inner end of the slot with a notch which cooperates with the inner end of the slot in providing the circular exit opening 33 aforesaid for the thread. A tension device is secured to the inside of the top of the cover 7 and as shown in Fig. 2 this device comprises a leaf spring 39 adapted to press the thread against the inside of the cover 7 and which is secured to the inside of the cover by the rivets 37 which secure the spring 35 to the outside thereof. The spring 39 is of arcuate formation and has a limb 41 which extends across the arcuate shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

the slot being broadened and having that corner nearer the radial slot 31 turned inwardly away from the inside of the cover 7 to allow the thread to pass more easily between the spring and the cover when threading the shuttle as hereinafter explained. A control finger 43 is provided on the inside of the cover to press upon the spring 39 and is adapted to be rotated about the axis of the cover to cause the spring to grip the thread passing between it and the cover with a varia- 3' ble pressure. For this purpose, a pivot pin 45 to which the finger is fast extends from the cover to the outside thereof and at its outer end is provided with a head 47 see Fig. metrically prongs of a pronged hand tool whereby the pivot pin 45 and the finger 43 which is secured to it may be rotated (when the cover is in position in the machine) to cause the finger to travel around the arcuate spring 39 and by pressing upon it in different places to vary as desired the tension applied to the thread. An upstanding pin is provided near the free end of the spring 39 to limit the extent of movement of the finger 43 inone direction, its movement in the other direction being limited by the head of the nearer one of the rivets 37. The cover 7 is also provided with two diametrically opposed holes 48 to 1 in which are formed two diaopposed holes 49 to receive two which is applied to can thereafter be and underneath the fiat spring until it work is held by thespring the cover with the requisite tension and is whereby the cover may be rotated to lock or unlock the bayonet joint aforesaid. Two prongs to fit within the holes 48 in the cover are convenientlyprovided on the pronged hand tool aforementioned, the

prongs for the holes 48 being at one end thereof and the prongs for the holes 49 being at the other end thereof.

The opening 33 through which the thread passes away from the shuttle to the work is so arranged on the cover that when the latter is locked in its proper position to the shuttle,

' as shown in Fig. 1, the said opening lies at the centre of curvature of the outside edge ofthe shuttle and therefore on the axis of rotation of the shuttle. As the shuttle oscillates, therefore, there is no tendency for thread to be pulled off the bobbin by the movements of the shuttle and consequently there is no resultant chafing of the thread. Also the lug 21 is so positioned with respect to the opening 3.3 and to the shuttle beak that the tension the shuttle. thread by the rawing down of the stitch to the work occurs when the opening 27 in the lug and the opening 33 are more or less on the line of pull as shown in Figs. 1 andf2, so that there; is no undue tendency for the thread to be strained by being dragged round sharp corners.

In the threading of the'shuttle, a filled bobbin is threaded on to the neck 11in the bobbin housing in the shuttle on the machine and the cover being loose end of the thread is pushed outwardly with the other hand through the opening 25 in the lug 21, is drawn over the outside of the lug-and pushed inwardly through the opening 27 in the lug. The end is thereafter pushed outwardly through the circular opening at the end of the arcuate slot 29 near to the lug, the thread then laid along the slot 29 while resting on the limb ll of-the tension spring and the end of the thread then drawn under the corner 32 which as before stated is bent outwardly. By pulling upon the end of the thread when in this position, the thread will be caused to ride further under the corner 32 between the broadened end 41 of the tension spring 39 and the cover 7 The thread drawn around the end of rests within'the opening 33 aforesaid.

The thread passing from the lug 21 to the 39 nipped against confined within the opening 33 by the notched. end of the flat spring 35.

Owing to the fact that the cover 7 has the tension device located'inside it described,

the side walls may be made of comparatively thin material, thereby allowing a large diameter bobbin to be used. Also as described the tension device can be adjusted quickly and easily without dismounting any of. theparts. Further in thearrangementdescribed, the

held in one hand, the I inner surface of the lip and Iceive and engage the thread passed under the disposition of the openings 25, 27 and 33 ensures that there shallbe a minimum of undesired tension on the thread as it is withdrawn from the bobbin in the sewing. Also the provision of the grooves 29 and 31 and the arrangement of the flat spring 35 allow the shuttle to be threaded quickly and easily without it being essential to withdraw the bobbin from the shuttle or to hold the bobbin in the hands.

The nature and scope of the invention having been indicated and one embodiment of the cover and adapted to guide the thread r from the thread mass to a point adj aoentvthe lnner surface of said cove-r, a 11p formed in the cover by the intersection of two converging slots, the apex of the lip being bent slightly outward to permit the insertion of the thread under the lip, a spring adapted to receive the thread which is passed under the lip between the spring and the cover, and means for'guiding the thread through the cover past one edge of the lip at a point which will cause the thread to pass in a line from the thread guide between the tension spring and the cover to said means,

2. In a sewing machine shuttle of the discoidal type, the combination ofa shuttle body having a bobbin housing, a removable bobbin cover, a lip in the cover formed by the intersection of converging slots terminating at the base of the lip in apertures for guiding thread through the cover, and a tensioning spring held yieldingly in contact with the inner surface of the lip and adapted to receive and engage the thread passed underthe lip between the spring and the inner surface of the cover.

3. In a sewing machine shuttle of thediscoidal type, the'combination of a shuttle body having a bobbin housing, a cover for the bobbin housing, a threadguide adapted to guide the thread from the thread mass to a point adjacent the edge of the cover, .alip in the cover formed by the intersection of converging slots which terminate at the base of the lip in apertures for guiding thread through the cover, one of said apertures being located adjacent the said thread guide and the other aperture being located substantially on the axisof the shuttle body, and a tensioning spring held yieldingly in contact with the adapted to relip between the spring and the inner surface of the cover.

4e. In a sewing machine shuttle of the discoidal type, the combination-of a shuttle body having a bobbin housing, a removable bobbin 7 spring and the inner cover, a lip in the cover formed by the intersection of eonvergin g slots ternnnatlng at the "base of the lip in apertures for guiding the thread through the cover, the apex of the lip being bent slightly outward to permit insertion of the thread under the lip, and a tensioning spring extending across one of the slots and held yieldingly in contact with the inner surface of the lip to receive and engage the thread passed under the lip between the surface of the cover.

0. I11 a sewing machine shuttle of the discoidal type, the combination of a shuttle body having a bobbin housing, a removable bobbin cover, a lip in the cover formed by the intersection of converging slots terminating at the base of the lip in apertures for guiding the thread through the cover, the apex of the lip being bent slightly outward to permit insertion of thread under the lip, and a tensioning spring extending across one of the slots and held yieldingly in contact with the inner surface of the lip to receive and engage the thread passed under the lip between the spring and the inner surface of the cover, the edge of the spring first engaged by the thread as it is passed under the lip being bent in wardly away from the cover to facilitate the movement of the thread between the spring and the under surface of the lip.

6. In a sewing machine shuttle of the dis coidal type, the combination of a shuttle body having a bobbin housing, a removable bobbin cover, a thread guide formed integrally with the cover and adapted to guide the thread from the thread mass to a point adjacent the inner surface of said cover, a lip formed in the cover by the intersection of two converging slots, one of said slots terminating in an aperture adapted to position the thread as it leaves the shuttle, and a tensioning spring held yieldingly in contact with the inner surface of the lip and adapted to receive and engage the thread passed under the lip between the spring and the inner surface of the cover, the parts being further arranged to cause the spring to engage thread substantially on a line between the guide and said aperture.

7 In a sewing machine shuttle of the discoidal type, the combination of a shuttle body having a bobbin housing, a removable bobbin cover, a lip in the cover formed by the intersection of converging slots, one of said slots terminating in an aperture adapted to position the thread as it leaves the shuttle, a tensioning spring held yieldingly in contact with the inner surface of the lip and adapted to receive and engage the thread passed under the lip between the spring and the inner surface of the cover, and means for holding the thread in said aperture.

8. In a sewing machine shuttle of the discoidal type, the combination of a shuttle body having a bobbin. housing, a removable spring curved about the stud and at bobbin cover, a lip in the cover formed by the intersection of converging slots, one of said slots terminating in an aperture adapted to position the thread as it leaves the shuttle, a tensioning spring held yieldingly in contact with the inner surface of the lip and adapted to receive and engage the thread passed under the lip between the, spring and the inner surface of the cover, and a retaining plate on the outside of the cover extending across a slot to hold the thread in said aperture. 7

9. In a sewing machine shuttle of the discoidal type, the combination of a shuttle body having a bobbin housing, a leafv tensioning spring adapted to engage the shuttle thread between the spring and an inner surface of the shuttle, a member adapted to bear against the spring to determine the amount of pressure exerted by the spring to tension the thread, and means controlled from the outside of the shuttle to position said member at difierent places along the spring to vary the amount of tension exerted by the spring.

10. In a sewing machine shuttle of the discoidal type, the combination of a shuttle body having a bobbin housing, a cover for the housing, a tensioning spring adapted to engage the shuttle thread between the spring and an inner surface'of the shuttle, a member adapted to bear against the spring to determine the amountof pressure exerted by the spring to tension the thread, and a stud on which the said member is secured extending to the outside of the shuttle and rotatable to vary the position of contact of said member with the spring, and so to vary the amount of tension exerted by the spring on the thread.

11. In a sewing machine shuttle of the discoidal type, the combination of a shuttle body having a bobbin housing, a removable bobbin cover, a stud extending through the cover and mounted to rotate therein, a tensioning one end secured to the inner surface of the cover and at its other end provided with a bearing surface to engage the thread between the spring and the inner surface of the cover, a member formed on the stud and positioned to bear against the spring, and means for rotatin g the stud and member to vary the tension of the spring' 12. In a sewing machine shuttle of the discoidal type, the combination of a shuttle body having a bobbin housing, a removable bobbin cover, a thread guide formed integrally with the cover and adapted to guide the thread from the thread mass to a point adjacent the a lip formed in inner surface of said cover, the cover by the intersection of converging slots which terminate in the base of the lip, said cover being provided with apertures for guiding the thread, one of said apertures being located adjacent the said threadguide and the other aperture being located substantially in the axis of the shuttle body, a pivot stud extending through-the cover and mounted to rotatetherein, a tensioning spring curved about the stud and secured at one end to the inner surface of the cover and at its other end provided With a bearing surface to engage thread passed under the lip between the spring and the inner surface of the cover, and a member secured to the stud adapted to bear against the spring to adjust the tension thereof on the thread.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILFRID THOMAS MINETT. 

